2014 Bathing Water Profile for Dyffryn (Llanendwyn)
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The beach is relatively flat, made up of sand and pebbles, stretching for 8 kilometres to the north of Barmouth. A number of caravan sites are located to the south. The dune system is part of the Morfa Dyffryn Site of Special Scientific Interest and the Morfa Dyffryn National Nature Reserve, which reflects the environmental importance of the site. The beach also lies within the Morfa Harlech a Morfa Dyffryn Special Area of Conservation. The water quality sample point is located directly in line with the board walk.
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Gwynedd
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Natural Resources Wales works to establish sources of pollution around Llanendwyn. Some of this work is carried out in partnership with Gwynedd County Council and Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water. Inspections are carried out by Natural Resources Wales in partnership with the local authority and the water company. These are carried out pre-season (before the 1st of May) and mid season if required (during the bathing water season). There are currently no know factors impacting bathing water quality at Llanenddwyn.
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There are no Combined Sewer Overflows in the vicinity. The storm overflow from Dyffryn Ardudwy works discharges at the same point as the main outlet.
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Natural Resources Wales has developed a good working relationship with Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water and liaises regularly in efforts to identify problems that could affect bathing water quality. Past bathing water sample failures at this beach were attributed largely to the previous crude sewage outfall at Barmouth. The outfall has now been replaced with a Membrane Bio Reactor. Please see: http://waterprojectsonline.com/case_studies/2010/DCWW_Nth_Wales_MBRs_2010.pdf - for more info
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Natural Resources Wales and Gwynedd Council have been working together to improve and maintain the bathing water quality at Llanenddwyn for a number of years.
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This bathing water does not have a history of large amounts of seaweed (macroalgae).
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Modern sewerage systems have two separate systems, one takes foul sewage to sewage treatment, the other takes rainwater runoff through surface water drains to rivers, lakes and the sea. Misconnections occur when waste water pipes are plumbed into surface water drains instead of the foul water sewerage system. This can give rise to pollution when the waste water is discharged directly to the environment through the surface water drain. For example, a washing machine or toilet may be incorrectly plumbed so that it discharges to the surface drain rather than the foul sewage drain.
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Phytoplankton (microscopic algae) naturally increase in number at certain times of the year. This process is known as a phytoplankton bloom. Algal Blooms can occur at any beach during the bathing season and are usually noticeable by a surface scum. This beach has no history of such blooms.
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2014 Bathing Water Profile for Dyffryn (Llanendwyn)
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Streams are typically affected by sewage or industrial run off from further up the catchment. This catchment is mainly drained by the River Ysgethin. This is a relatively small river, draining an agricultural catchment largely dedicated to sheep rearing. This could make the Ysgethin a source of reduced water quality, after heavy rainfall. There is no record of the Ysgethin impacting water quality at Llanenddwyn to date.
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Dyffryn Ardudwy Sewage Treatment Works final outfall and storm water enter a drain, north of the bathing water quality sample point. Dyffryn Ardudwy provides secondary treatment in the form of a biofilter, to protect bathing water quality.
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Natural Resources Wales continues to work with private owners to address potential pollution sources to the bathing water. This work involves where necessary, advisory mail drops, dye tracing, misconnection surveys and general meetings. Poorly maintained private sewage treatment facilities could be a source of pollution, therefore the registration of all private sewage systems in Wales is required by 30 June 2012. The primary aim of this exercise is to provide increased protection for the environment and sensitive features such as bathing water beaches. Where properties are identified in the catchment that are not on mains sewerage, Natural Resources Wales will endeavour to ensure registration has been made.
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The natural drainage (hydrological) catchment is primarily via the River Ysgethin. This is a relatively small river, draining an agricultural catchment largely dedicated to sheep rearing. The small village of Dyffryn and number of residential and holiday properties are located inland of the bathing water.
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2014 39360:1
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Seaweed (macroalgae) and phytoplankton (microscopic algae) are a natural part of the marine and freshwater environment. Below we note whether these have been recorded in quantities sufficient to be a nuisance.
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The majority of sewers in England and Wales are “combined sewers” and carry both sewage and surface water from roofs and drains. A storm overflow operates during heavy rainfall when the sewerage system becomes overwhelmed by the amount of surface water. The overflow prevents sewage from backing up pipes and flooding properties and gardens. An emergency overflow will only operate infrequently, for example due to pump failure or blockage in the sewerage system.
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Heavy rain falling on pavements and roads often flows into surface water drains or highway drains, ending up in local rivers and, ultimately, the sea. The quality of bathing water may be adversely affected as a result of such events.
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It is the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales role to drive improvement of water quality at bathing waters that are at risk of failing European standards. It is natural for water to run off the land to the sea. Water quality at a bathing water is dependent upon the type and area of land (the catchment) draining to the water and the activities undertaken in that catchment.
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Discharges from sewage treatment works have improved substantially in England and Wales since the 1980s.
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